Just How Long Do Dental Implants Take?
One of the factors you may have discovered about dental implants in Richmond, or indeed anywhere else in the UK is that they aren’t a quick fix solution to missing teeth replacement. Instead, due to the nature and complexity of how and why implants function, they take time. The question is how much time?
The problem is that there isn’t a ‘one answer fits all’ scenario and ultimately treatment time depends 
upon a number of factors. These include
- Complexity of the situation
- A patient’s ability to recover quickly
- Any other issues
Let’s take a closer look at each one in turn.
Complexity of the situation
Each person who wants to undergo treatment for a dental implant in Richmond per se is given a thorough oral examination beforehand. From this the dentist will develop a personalised treatment plan based on the individual’s unique situation. It could be for example that the missing tooth or teeth have been lost for a substantial period of time. If this is the case then there’s a good chance that there’s going to be some bone loss. The problem is that for implants to function they need a good quantity of healthy bone mass into which they can then be planted. If this isn’t the case, then the patient might have to undergo further surgery in the form of a bone graft. This in itself takes time to heal and is often necessary before any implants can be placed. In some instances this can add another 4-12 weeks onto the overall length of the treatment. This being the case, a standard 5 month treatment may now become 6-8 months.
Patient’s ability to recover
Another factor when looking at the overall treatment time for dental implants is a person’s ability to recover. Recovery time is necessary after an implant has been placed so that the bone tissue can merge and fuse around the titanium root in order to create a super-strong platform. Under normal circumstances this takes 3-4months. However, lifestyle choices, such as smoking and drinking, and health issues such as uncontrollable diabetes can dramatically affect the body’s ability to heal, and as such are far more likely to slow the process down. For this reason a 3-4 month recovery might now take 6-8 months or longer.
Any other issues
Finally, in order for implants to stand the best chance of survival they need to be placed into a healthy mouth. If a patient has problems such as gum disease or any other issues that might hinder the implant success, then these will have to be dealt with first of all. Usually they can be cleared within a few weeks but nevertheless, that’s a few more weeks added on to the total overall time.
So to sum up, under normal circumstances a straight forward implant takes around 5 months to complete from initial consultation through to final fitting. However more complex surgical procedures, multiple implants, and/or lifestyle and health issues, can extend the treatment from 5 to 9 months and beyond.
To find out more about whether dental implants in Richmond are right for you then visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk or contact us on 020 8876 5277 and book yourself a free, no obligation consultation. Here you can get all your questions and concerns answered allowing you to make a fully informed dental decision.